During York’s Pride weekend, we found out what it was like to be part of the UK’s first Pride march in London with York trailblazer Stuart Feather.
Brought up in Acomb, Stuart was one of the original members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) which organised the first London Pride rally on 1 July 1972 in central London. Attended by around 2,000 people, the march was timed to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in 1969 which followed LGBT+ patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York being targeted by police.
At our in-conversation event, Stuart reflected on the events of the 1970s up until today, revealing his personal journey and that of the nation. What were the GLF’s greatest achievements and legacy? What is his assessment of progress on gay rights issues to date? Where is urgent action still needed?
As we celebrate York Pride this weekend, 75 people joined Stuart and learned more about the birth of the Pride movement from one of its pioneers.